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Lot 371: c.1855 Washington Ogee Clock

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Lot  371: c.1855 Washington Ogee Clock
<b>Washington Related</b><hr><b>Lovely c. 1855 George Washington Pendulum Clock</b>

<b>c. 1855 Washington Pendulum “Ogee” Clock, Extremely Fine.</b>
29” tall x 16.25” wide x 4” deep. A fine example from an exciting period in American clock history. The weight-driven Ogee was a fixture in America before spring-driven movements took over. The mahogany case featuring the image of George Washington in the lower tablet is in very good condition. The wavy glass over the dial is original. The original movement has recently been cleaned and lubricated and is in excellent running and striking condition. There is not a more pleasant sound than the soothing tick/ tock of an old American weight-driven movement. It counts out the hour on an authoritative sounding gong. Part of the original E. N. Welsh label is still readable. It comes with the original "crank" winder.

Elisha N. Welch (1809-1887) began manufacturing clocks around 1856 when he took over the J. C. Brown Clock Company (another nice collector's clock) that had gone bankrupt. The company's name then was just E. N. Welch (the period during which this clock was made). In 1864, it became a joint stock corporation and the name was changed to the E. N. Welch Manufacturing Company. There were two factories located in Forestville, Conn. A new movement factory was added in 1869.

Also in 1869, a subsidiary firm was formed called the Welch, Spring & Company to produce an expensive line of clocks. Elisha Welsh was well known for producing handsome clock cases made from mahogany, rosewood, and walnut. Elisha was an admirer of the opera and the concert. The names that he bestowed on a great variety of his clocks bear the names of the great musical personalities of the period.

After the death of Elisha in 1887, the company went on a steep decline and closed down in 1893. It was started up again two years later. In 1899, two fires destroyed most of their assets and even though a new brick factory was built in 1900, the company could not meet its debts and was taken over by the Sessions Clock Company in 1903.

Ogee clocks were first made in 1840. The name Ogee comes from the ogee or cyma curve that forms the front of this clock. This type of architecture was popular in America during this Empire and Victorian period and was much used in furniture design especially looking-glass frames. It was first applied to clocks by William Carpenter of Bristol Conn. for clocks similar to this one. This style quickly spread to other clock makers and many of
these clocks were sold overseas, especially England.